I hardly forget women with distinctive features of creative abilities and what they stands for. I have had women recipe shared in full, young and old rubbing shoulder with men with their head high. I have tried war of words. I fought aimless. I lost many times in argument. There, I see strength in women’s creativity. The words that come to mind is what wouldn’t they achieve in unity of purpose? Yet, they suffer violence everyday.
Violence against women feeds off discrimination and serves to reinforce the decimal reoccurrence. In the 60’s, during civil war, when women are abused; raped by armed forces as “spoils of war,” or terrorized by violence in the home, unequal power relations between men and women are both manifested and enforced. That is the Nigeria story. Wait, there is more to it.
Venal forms of discrimination further restrict women’s choices, increase their vulnerability to violence, and make it even harder for women to obtain justice.
Women are the salt of the earth but men watered their taste by clipping their wings. This is shepherd story of one woman against army of men. There has never, perhaps, have not come to hear it, of a battered case of many women against a man. Every voice raised of a woman is met by hundreds of men harmfully for survival. This scenario is not peculiar to Nigeria. Nations of the world suffer yet, the winner is not always the man that face the silence of women but the woman that hide the vent of her weapons (anger) to curtail men. Women’s anger are like missile sent to space. It destroys beyond the spoils. Whereas, anger as an emotion is the least anyone can see in women. Their compassion to men are endlessly inspiring. Women intuitive love are immeasurable. They have the greatest olive ranch that heals the world. They are created supportive of men in this trickled world of wicked people. Women are raised to know they live for men. That knowledge, is enough burnt for the society.
Of their rights, they have always suffered defeat. Nonetheless, makes the story horrendous in the end. It’s sin in the eyes of men to see a woman rubbing shoulder with men in position of authority – a recklessly accepted perception that kills values in ‘us’. Whose fault? When they won’t stand on their own to defend the enlisted societal flaws that relegated the norms, the values for sole reason of keeping men in shape.
Recently, I dropped a post on my facebook thread showcasing women in protest over violence against women. Comments from women smacked down my vile as strong advocate of gender balance. It drew a sword at my relapsing spine. I feel incorrigibly smashed in the face. It is no longer an injury to one – an approximate of injury to all. No matter what Senator Oluremi Tinubu, OON may have said that angst her colleague, sexually abusing her is the antidote? To the creche point of physical assault? Yet, her female folks reaction is zero plus for Senator Dino.
The other time, a woman was beaten to death by her husband, I read and read tire via every mobile application broadcast the convalesced rage of every women. If you are not standing tall while reacting against them, the heat of the hundred of women after your position would drain out your blood. That was on social media, an exchange between the invisibles.
Where are names like ‘Yemi Adamolekun, Bisi Fayemi, Esther Ijewere Kalejaiye, Funke Philips, Yinka Odumakin, Rhoda Sonaike, Kemi-Olunloyo, whose voices of protracted abuse against women have been felt? They have always stood their ground making case for women beyond their spheres. Infact, some had in time past take the fight to cleaners with anyone that whipped or violate another woman indiscriminately. They are self-made fighters. Self sufficient in course. What happened to the valour in them?
The Funmi Iyanda, Mrs Aishat Baba, what hacked their voice? Why are they barren this time. The silence is criminal of what they stand for. The-voice hacked to their kneels is hypocritical. Beguiling the sentiments of choosing benefitting fight – I understand the fight before hand is more political. Having contact that the various amplified voices were motivated shallowed my perception in disbelief. What is wrong in supporting their own?
If Senator Oluremi Tinubu who double as the wife of the most powerful politician in Africa is an ordinary citizen in red chamber, the beast in Dino would have follow her down to panties. Really. Where is the love?
And those who feel the assault should not go unpunished that took to street are branded with unprinted names. A rampage echoes of dumb and penal excuses surface. Women righting the wrongs of men against their own.
In my more than three decades on earth, have read or seen violence against women domesticated by their own specie of being. Thatcher example.
Who will end the cycle if not women themselves. Living free from violence is a human right not choice, yet millions of women are victim disproportionately from violence both in peace and in war, at the hands of men, in the home and community.
The beaten, nefarious hardship, rape, mutilated, and killed with impunity are acts that paralyses women. This can only stop when the red button is pushed by women-folks.
Violence against women stems from the failure of governments and societies to recognize the human rights of women. So rooted in global culture of discrimination which denies women equal rights with men. Thank God for international suffrage: the right of women to vote who leads them (men) would have been severed till now.
In Britain, a woman is queen, another woman is prime minister, but in Nigeria, a female senator is threatened with physical abuse by her colleague. That is a very distinguished Senator who represents vast population of people. Sad, Nigeria’s latest victim is a maker of law who we all pray to make enviable laws that will stop the violence. That’s a popular figure and the wife of one of the strongest men in Nigeria. How much more an ordinary woman without protection? No police or human rights activist can protect her from forced male domination. Nigerian women can only soar if their men wont clip their wings.
I do hope the devious surge of indiscriminate assault ends on her, else, I can’t wait to read what Linda Ikeji and all the quiet women activist will have to say that time…
Written by Segun Adegbenro, a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst.
